Should not have to labor so badly to beat Canada. Joe Torre's going to kill this team with his management. Can we get Zimmer to sit on his bench and yell at Torre like during the Yankee glory days? If not, I'll do it.

Was impressed with Taillon. Struck out Braun on a nasty curve. It's a promising sign that he can go up against a talented US lineup and not get slaughtered.

Rocco wrote:Should not have to labor so badly to beat Canada. Joe Torre's going to kill this team with his management. Can we get Zimmer to sit on his bench and yell at Torre like during the Yankee glory days? If not, I'll do it.

Was impressed with Taillon. Struck out Braun on a nasty curve. It's a promising sign that he can go up against a talented US lineup and not get slaughtered.

Taillon impressed me. This wasn't 4 innings in Bradenton.. It was against an all star team playing for a "world championship." He looked like he belonged.

Rocco wrote:Was impressed with Taillon. Struck out Braun on a nasty curve. It's a promising sign that he can go up against a talented US lineup and not get slaughtered.

I'm not sure how much these guys really care...not basing this off anything really, I haven't watched any of the US games. I've turned on team venezuela that has probably the most stacked lineup, and they were very unimpressive against some weak pitching.

Rocco wrote:Was impressed with Taillon. Struck out Braun on a nasty curve. It's a promising sign that he can go up against a talented US lineup and not get slaughtered.

I'm not sure how much these guys really care...not basing this off anything really, I haven't watched any of the US games. I've turned on team venezuela that has probably the most stacked lineup, and they were very unimpressive against some weak pitching.

Rocco wrote:He should. He's yet to pitch a full season at AA. The starting pitching is shaky, but it's not that shaky.

No. the pirates are just stupid and cheap. there are dozens of of 21 years old pitchers dominating the mlb. taillon could be another one but the nuttings are too busy putting all their money into seven springs.

Rocco wrote:Was impressed with Taillon. Struck out Braun on a nasty curve. It's a promising sign that he can go up against a talented US lineup and not get slaughtered.

I'm not sure how much these guys really care...not basing this off anything really, I haven't watched any of the US games. I've turned on team venezuela that has probably the most stacked lineup, and they were very unimpressive against some weak pitching.

I think the ones that don't care are in spring training with their teams.

Rocco wrote:He should. He's yet to pitch a full season at AA. The starting pitching is shaky, but it's not that shaky.

No. the pirates are just stupid and cheap. there are dozens of of 21 years old pitchers dominating the mlb. taillon could be another one but the nuttings are too busy putting all their money into seven springs.

And into new scoreboards. But you people keep filling his seats and his pockets.

I think this year will be the first time I'm back in Pittsburgh for a Pirates game. I'll probably bring a few MD people too. Gonna be good stuff. If the O's hadn't gone off last year, I could have tried to breed a few new Pirates' pawns.

Rocco wrote:He should. He's yet to pitch a full season at AA. The starting pitching is shaky, but it's not that shaky.

No. the pirates are just stupid and cheap. there are dozens of of 21 years old pitchers dominating the mlb. taillon could be another one but the nuttings are too busy putting all their money into seven springs.

Of course. Taillon could easily go 22-4 with a 2.20 ERA this year in the majors if the Nuttings would let him.

In all seriousness, I'd love to see Cole start the year in the majors and Taillon ready to come up this summer. But even putting aside financial reasons for slowing their development, part of why the Pirates are where they are now is because from 1997-2007 every significant pitching prospect not named Maholm suffered a significant arm injury that derailed his career. Many of these injuries were likely due to being over aggressive (Bobby Bradley and Benson spring to mind). I can't really be upset that current management wants to do things completely differently than the old management which failed miserably.

El Blimpo is hitting .087 this spring. He was awful last spring as well. Does he just not pick up a bat at all from October-February? Would it kill him to put down the pizza and go to a batting cage once a week?

Jason Grilli is chilling in the Italy bullpen while crappy career minor leaguers are trying to blow the game in the 8th because the manager can't imagine using his best reliever before the 9th inning. Grilli should get used to this scenario.